Locking device for milk bottles



' arch 11 1924. 1,486,331 H. GOULD ET AL LOCKING DEVICE FOR MILK BOTTLES Filed Feb. 5. 1923 Patented Mar. 11, 1924.

HERMAN GOULD, FRANK ACKERMANN, AND JOHN GEERING, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR MILK BOTTLES.

Application filed February 3, 1923. Serial No. 616,685.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, HERMAN GOULD, FRANK AOKERMANN, and JOHN GEERING, all citizens of the United States of America, all residing at New York city, Bronx County, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locking Devices for Milk Bottles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a theft preven tion device and in particular to one which is adapted for use in retaining a milk bottle or the like.

To dwellers of apartment houses where the milk is left standing outside the door, it has long been a source of annoyance and an expense to pay for milk that has been stolen. In order to prevent this, we have devised a simple yet strong and efficient lock which will be always prepared for use, that is when a bottle has been automatically locked therein, the action of releasing the bottle by the owner will automatically reset the lock for further use.

A further object of our invention is to provide a device whereby only the tenant of the apartment or one within doors can release the bottle.

A still further object of the device is to provide for resetting the look from the out side so that in the event that it becomes closed without a bottle therein, it may be instantly reset to receive a bottle by the milkman, it being understood, of course,

that when there is a bottle in the lock it cannot be removed by anyone except an authorized person.

Referring to the drawing wherein one embodiment of our invention is illustrated;

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of our lock showing it in position holding a bottle, suitable sections being taken therethrough to fully disclose the device;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of our look as seen in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a fragmentary portion as seen in Fig. 1 showing the use of a key whereby the lock may only be opened by one possessing the key.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the lock bar spring.

Referring to the drawing in detail, 10 denotes in general the lock which comprises a base portion 11 formed integral with which is the fixed jaw 12 and opposite thereto the bifurcated movable jaw support 13. In the latter, which for convenience, will be termed the support, a movable jaw 14 is pivoted on the pin 15. This movable jaw 14 is widened in that portion 16 which lies within the support and is provided with teeth 17 which are adapted to have contact with the forward end of a lock bar 18 which passes through the base portion 11.

The lock bar at its forward end is bevelled on one side as at 19 and flattened on the opposite side as at 20, the bevelled side being adapted to ratchet over the teeth when the jaw 14 is swung toward the fixed jaw 12 to engage the neck of a bottle 21 shown in dotted lines in the drawing. The flat side 20 of the bar prevents any opening movement of the jaw 14 when it has once been swung closed to engage the neck of a bottle.

The lock bar is pressed against the teeth 17 by a fiat spring 22 which is suitably secured as by screw 23 to the inside of the cored out base portion 11. The bar is pro vided with an annular groove 24 into which the free end of spring 22 engages, this arrangement allowing of a yielding movement of the lock bar when it is ratcheting over the teeth of the movable jaw 14.

It will be noted upon inspection of Fig. 1 that when the lock is empty, the movable jaw will be swung outwardly so that its inner end will be between the fixed jaw and the support. The bottle neck is then projected between the jaws and strikes the inwardly protruding part of jaw 14 causing the outer end of the jaw to engage the neck of the bottle. The fiat side 20 of lock bar 18 then prevents opening of jaw 14 and it is necessary that the bar be revolved to present its bevelled end against an opening movement of jaw 14 which permits the bottle being withdrawn. For convenience, the inner end of the lock bar is bent as at 25. The lock may be placed-a suitable distance above the floor and on the woodwork 26 adjacent the door so that the rod projects into the vestibule or hall.

The support 13 is bifurcated to provide for the passing therethrough of the outer end of the jaw 14. This allows of the lock will also be noted that the outer end of the jaw 14 is shorter than the inner end thereby allowing a full revolution of the same without touching the locking bar. The height of base portion 11 provides for the enlarged bottom portionof the bottle, and allows the bottle to stand or be suspended upright in the lock.

The base is cast to provide end bosses 28 through which screws pass to hold the lock in position. The rubber builers 29 prevent breakage of the bottle when it is inserted into the look.

What we claim is 1. A locking device comprising a movable jaw, an opposed fixed jaw, said movable jaw being provided. with a serrated edge, a rotatable lock bar adapted to engage said serrated edge, and means formed on said lock bar whereby the direction of movement of the jaw is limited depending upon the rotary position of said lock bar.

2. In a locking device adapted to engage a bottle or the like, a pair of jaws, one of which is movable relatively to the other, the movable jaw being provided with an enlarged end which, when the lock is set extends into the space between the jaws, a serrated edge formed on said enlarged end, a locking member adapted to engage said serrations, means allowing said locking member to yield so that when an object is thrustbetween said jaws and strikes said enlarged end the movable jaw will ,be caused to close, and means formed on said looking bar to prevent a counter, movement of said movable jaw.

3. A locking device comprising a pair of jaws, one of which is movable, a locking bar adapted to contact with said movable jaw member, means formed on said bar for permitting a movement in either direction of said movable member when said bar is suitably positioned, and means whereby the movable jaw may be moved from its locking position to a reset position without manipulation of said locking bar.

HERMAN. GOULD. FRANK ACKERMANN. JOHN GEERING. 

